第40章

andthethingsbringinghiminagoodthirdattheleast，thisoughtintwelvemonthstogivehimaprofitofahundredandthirtyfrancs。Hehopedthatthebusinesswouldnotstopthere；

thatthebillswouldnotbepaid；thattheywouldberenewed；andthathispoorlittlemoney，havingthrivenatthedoctor’sasatahospital，wouldcomebacktohimonedayconsiderablymoreplump，andfatenoughtobursthisbag。

Everything，moreover，succeededwithhim。HewasadjudicatorforasupplyofcidertothehospitalatNeufchatel；MonsieurGuillauminpromisedhimsomesharesintheturf-pitsofGaumesnil，andhedreamtofestablishinganewdiligenceservicebetweenArcueilandRouen，whichnodoubtwouldnotbelonginruiningtheramshacklevanofthe“Liond’Or，“andthat，travellingfaster，atacheaperrate，andcarryingmoreluggage，wouldthusputintohishandsthewholecommerceofYonville。

Charlesseveraltimesaskedhimselfbywhatmeansheshouldnextyearbeabletopaybacksomuchmoney。Hereflected，imaginedexpedients，suchasapplyingtohisfatherorsellingsomething。

Buthisfatherwouldbedeaf，andhe——hehadnothingtosell。

Thenheforesawsuchworriesthathequicklydismissedsodisagreeableasubjectofmeditationfromhismind。HereproachedhimselfwithforgettingEmma，asif，allhisthoughtsbelongingtothiswoman，itwasrobbingherofsomethingnottobeconstantlythinkingofher。

Thewinterwassevere，MadameBovary’sconvalescenceslow。Whenitwasfinetheywheeledherarm-chairtothewindowthatoverlookedthesquare，forshenowhadanantipathytothegarden，andtheblindsonthatsidewerealwaysdown。Shewishedthehorsetobesold；whatsheformerlylikednowdispleasedher。

Allherideasseemedtobelimitedtothecareofherself。Shestayedinbedtakinglittlemeals，rangfortheservanttoinquireabouthergruelortochatwithher。Thesnowonthemarket-roofthrewawhite，stilllightintotheroom；thentherainbegantofall；andEmmawaiteddailywithamindfullofeagernessfortheinevitablereturnofsometriflingeventswhichneverthelesshadnorelationtoher。Themostimportantwasthearrivalofthe“Hirondelle“intheevening。Thenthelandladyshoutedout，andothervoicesanswered，whileHippolyte’slantern，ashefetchedtheboxesfromtheboot，waslikeastarinthedarkness。Atmid-dayCharlescamein；thenhewentoutagain；nextshetooksomebeef-tea，andtowardsfiveo’clock，asthedaydrewin，thechildrencomingbackfromschool，draggingtheirwoodenshoesalongthepavement，knockedtheclapperoftheshutterswiththeirrulersoneaftertheother。

ItwasatthishourthatMonsieurBournisiencametoseeher。Heinquiredafterherhealth，gavehernews，exhortedhertoreligion，inacoaxinglittleprattlethatwasnotwithoutitscharm。Themerethoughtofhiscassockcomfortedher。

Oneday，whenattheheightofherillness，shehadthoughtherselfdying，andhadaskedforthecommunion；and，whiletheyweremakingthepreparationsinherroomforthesacrament，whiletheywereturningthenighttablecoveredwithsyrupsintoanaltar，andwhileFelicitewasstrewingdahliaflowersonthefloor，Emmafeltsomepowerpassingoverherthatfreedherfromherpains，fromallperception，fromallfeeling。Herbody，relieved，nolongerthought；anotherlifewasbeginning；itseemedtoherthatherbeing，mountingtowardGod，wouldbeannihilatedinthatlovelikeaburningincensethatmeltsintovapour。Thebed-clothesweresprinkledwithholywater，thepriestdrewfromtheholypyxthewhitewafer；anditwasfaintingwithacelestialjoythatsheputoutherlipstoacceptthebodyoftheSaviourpresentedtoher。Thecurtainsofthealcovefloatedgentlyroundherlikeclouds，andtheraysofthetwotapersburningon